Project Tracker: Cape Fear Regional Jetport terminal building

Saturday

Sep 9, 2017 at 9:00 AM

The Cape Fear Regional Jetport off Long Beach Road is in the process of getting a new terminal building.

By Makenzie Holland StarNews Staff

Cost: $3.5 million

The details: The Cape Fear Regional Jetport was awarded a $3.5 million grant last year to build a new terminal building at the airport. The building will be situated off Airport Road behind where the current terminal building stands. The easy access to Airport Road will provide safer access to Long Beach Road, which runs in front of the airport, said Howie Franklin, airport director. The building will be about 5,000 square feet and feature amenities such as a pilot’s lounge, conference room, waiting lobby and restrooms, a food area and porches in the front and back. Franklin said the airport has undergone multiple expansion projects to keep up with demand. Over the last 25 years, about $23 million has been invested in airport expansion, he said. The airport runway was extended to about 4,300 feet in 2000 and expanded to 5,500 feet about 10 years later. A taxiway was built next to the runway a short time after the second runway expansion. Franklin said he originally wanted the next expansion project to be a new hangar, but now wants the terminal building because of demand for larger conference space from clientele flying into the airport.

The progress: The project was recently put out to bid and Franklin said he believes construction of the new terminal building will start sometime in January or February 2018 and take about a year to complete. Sewer and water expansion to the site is expected to start sometime next month, Franklin said.

Reporter Makenzie Holland can be reached at 910-343-2371 or Makenzie.Holland@StarNewsOnline.com.